This Black Guy Drew What It Was Like Being The Only Black Man In A White Office In The 60s, And It’ll Make You Think

There’s a lot of drama in the workplace, but probably only a handful of people have experienced it as much as the people of color who started entering predominantly white offices a few decades ago. Tom Floyd was born in Gary, Indiana in 1929 and operated his own advertising firm before working as a designer for the Inland Steel Company. There, his insights on racial dynamics were formed.

“As a ‘BLACK’ white collar worker having willingly and conscientiously taken an active part in America’s leading social pre-occupation… An experiment called ‘Integration’ … I feel compelled to assess my total experience and perhaps the experiences of other Blacks by saying…. ‘INTEGRATION IS A BITCH‘…,” Tom Floyd commented.

Floyd used his personal experience as the only black man working in a white environment in the 60s, showcasing the absurd reality he was forced to be a part of. The cartoonist was a proponent of meaningful racial understanding and cooperation. His comic series ‘Integration is a Bitch‘ was released in 1969, a time where the vast majority of works like it were rejected by publishers, too scared to deal with such a sensitive subject. Luckily, Floyd’s work managed to squeeze its way into the pressing machine, and people say it’s relevant even today.

welcome to industry

Image credits: Tom Floyd

hire some negroes.. Quick!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

Look, boss…. i got our image maker

Image credits: Tom Floyd

there is no need to write in your race on this application… just put… where you live…

Image credits: Tom Floyd

thank you! thank you!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

‘we are pledged to do all in our power to assure genuine equality of opportunity in employment…’

Image credits: Tom Floyd

in comparison with other bigoted companies, ABC engineering is very outstanding

Image credits: Tom Floyd

we do everything to make our employees happy here!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

race is unimportant at abc engineering

Image credits: Tom Floyd

we got three new employees….. 2 ones and 1 five

Image credits: Tom Floyd

hey, doc… here is a good heart donor prospect….

Image credits: Tom Floyd

well-we won’t be needing this anymore…..

Image credits: Tom Floyd

we felt that you would like a window with a view…..

Image credits: Tom Floyd

…and this is our negro!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

you will be our second attempt at integration

Image credits: Tom Floyd

now he has the wrong attitude…

Image credits: Tom Floyd

we’ve always had an outstanding integration record

Image credits: Tom Floyd

i don’t know what happened….. when you came they all moved

Image credits: Tom Floyd

what’s the code numbers for negroes?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

but, we thought he’d make you feel at home!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

hi ‘ya fellows!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

oh no fred….. he works here

Image credits: Tom Floyd

this is b. t. jones…. he is well liked here…

Image credits: Tom Floyd

soul brother….. i’m so glad you’re here….

Image credits: Tom Floyd

….now you speak in this and… and…

Image credits: Tom Floyd

what do you think about negroes in the street… i mean.. crime in the streets….?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

make sure that these pictures are sent to the black dispatch….. afro american news, etc.

Image credits: Tom Floyd

some negroes beat up my boy last night!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

why aren’t all negroes like ralph bunch?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

may i sit here or are you one of those black militants

Image credits: Tom Floyd

i made them with peanut brittle and nigger toes

Image credits: Tom Floyd

hi boss.. remember that problem that you couldn’t solve.. well i just…..

Image credits: Tom Floyd

if i told you a joke…. would you get offended?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

shh…. here he comes!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

file this…..

Image credits: Tom Floyd

what… you don’t like watermelon, george?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

we can’t give you a raise simply because you are colored…

Image credits: Tom Floyd

your report was good…. but…..

Image credits: Tom Floyd

…you’re the first colored fellow that he has ever seen….

Image credits: Tom Floyd

he’s got a knife!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

…and then this colored guy said…..

Image credits: Tom Floyd

i have nothing against negroes… some of my best friends are culturally deprived

Image credits: Tom Floyd

does he get a report too?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

let me show you how to do that!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

eh…. no seats

Image credits: Tom Floyd

no…. for the third time i don’t carry a knife!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

boy scout equip sale

Image credits: Tom Floyd

george… a cup of coffee, light on cream

Image credits: Tom Floyd

ya’ know,… i wouldn’t mind if a nice colored fellow like you would live next door to me

Image credits: Tom Floyd

you two probably know each other…..

Image credits: Tom Floyd

discrimination complaint…..? see mr. george brown

Image credits: Tom Floyd

george…. we have a treat for you…

Image credits: Tom Floyd

it’s brotherhood week

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rape!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

hooray…. alabama won!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

ya’ see… thay’re taking over….

Image credits: Tom Floyd

i’m discriminated against…… and i’m white

Image credits: Tom Floyd

let’s get one thing straight… you weren’t hired to solve engineering problems….

Image credits: Tom Floyd

illustration by Tom Floyd

Image credits: Tom Floyd

here are some of my kids old clothes… i thought that your kids could use them….

Image credits: Tom Floyd

…when i was young i belonged to a gang,… but, that was different…

Image credits: Tom Floyd

what’s this… a black power conference?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

you’re late, mr. brown!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

there were some cute colored kids on tv last night

Image credits: Tom Floyd

….now lets face it… if blacks were on top… they would treat whites the same inhumane way…..

Image credits: Tom Floyd

it’s st. patrick’s day….. where is your shamrock?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

have you seen my coin purse?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

we had a nice colored man cuttting our grass yesterday… and you know.. he didn’t steal a thing….

Image credits: Tom Floyd

still want to buy my house?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

i belong to the naacp… i send my daughter to an integrated school.. but… i still can’t see open housing

Image credits: Tom Floyd

boy… do you need a haircut!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

it’s a brilliant idea…. who helped you with it?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

Illustration by Tom Floyd

Image credits: Tom Floyd

one of your soul brothers beat me up last nite!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

maybe thay don’t serve people in sport coats…

Image credits: Tom Floyd

it will be a while before the neighbors get use to you!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

sorry… but all of the men are out of the office now.. could you call back later?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

now see here, george, somebody has to be low man on the totem pole

Image credits: Tom Floyd

if you think we mistreated you blacks… look how we did the indians

Image credits: Tom Floyd

how about a little luck… george?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

see…. here is proof that you deprived guys can make it

Image credits: Tom Floyd

i think george is trying to tell us something

Image credits: Tom Floyd

only at abc engineering could you find fringe benefits like this

Image credits: Tom Floyd

ya see….. they all can dance

Image credits: Tom Floyd

did you know him?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

for heaven’s sake, george…. tell them how well we treat you!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

this image report reads as follows…

Image credits: Tom Floyd

clap clap clap

Image credits: Tom Floyd

… ah… miss jones… i simply detest exhibitionism…

Image credits: Tom Floyd

don’t call him boy!

Image credits: Tom Floyd

ah…. did you know him?

Image credits: Tom Floyd

thats right, ali… hit him… knock his head off…

Image credits: Tom Floyd

average looking… what do you mean… my blond wife is average looking…

Image credits: Tom Floyd

the following words are never to be used when addressing a black person